Welcome to the AC Tropical Fish aquarium forum. Our aquarium forum is the place to discuss any aquarium related issue in a friendly environment. Our aquarium forum welcomes aquarists of all levels from beginners to experts. Please ask a question in the how to section of our forum or read the FAQ section if you have any questions. register to and become a part of our friendly aquarium forum community today.

API FILSTAR XP-XL Canister Pros & Cons

1

Has anyone have any experience with this filter system? It used to be named the RENA filters till API bought the line of canister filters. I like the 4 basket for media design. The GPH also is not to bad at 450 GPH. Would like to know for those who have one or used one the RENA or the API what are the pros and cons of this filter system.

Has anyone have any experience with this filter system? It used to be named the RENA filters till API bought the line of canister filters. I like the 4 basket for media design. The GPH also is not to bad at 450 GPH. Would like to know for those who have one or used one the RENA or the API what are the pros and cons of this filter system.

Thank you Bill

Yes had it before API bought it-and cheaped it out. I also got one of the API-new ones, which is why I knew they cheaped out. First they have too many sponges, coars, medium and fine. This fills up with bacteria (good) but also gunk (bad) which can and will ultimately result in Nitrate spiked-well it did for me. Also the canister has something like 11 O-rings that are supposed to keep the air our, but my Rena was old and when I replaced the failing O-rings with the API replacements, the unit sucked in so much air on a daily basis that I had 2" of air on top and no filtration. Then when I bought a new API Filstar, the unit NEW did the same thing-sucking in air as it filtered until it stopped filtering because the buildup of air in the canister. For a similar price and a lot better filtration go look at the Eheim Classic canisters. Design is simple, minimal sponges and lost of room for bacterial or mechanical media-which are a lot (a LOT) easier to clean than sponges.

Plus water moves in linear fashion= less energy wasted on forcing water to U-bend with a powerful pump and more time for bacteria to process water before it rushes past them. Top sponge is optional (fine filter floss pad), blue sponge is coarse and I could get a year of use out of it before I replaced it.ai-909708-ClassicCanister.jpg

Filstar, water comes in and out at top so has to be forced through at high pressure. Sometimes high GPH does not = good filtration, plus look at the sponges, 4 of them plus the polishing pad at top! Eventually you cannot clean them and they can be expensive to replace.

Plus water moves in linear fashion= less energy wasted on forcing water to U-bend with a powerful pump and more time for bacteria to process water before it rushes past them. Top sponge is optional (fine filter floss pad), blue sponge is coarse and I could get a year of use out of it before I replaced it.ai-909708-ClassicCanister.jpg

Filstar, water comes in and out at top so has to be forced through at high pressure. Sometimes high GPH does not = good filtration, plus look at the sponges, 4 of them plus the polishing pad at top! Eventually you cannot clean them and they can be expensive to replace.

I don't think that the amount of energy is always wasted for that type of canister design. Look at the eheim 2750, g3, and g4 series. They use less energy (wattage) than the classics. If you think about it, the motor design of the classics haven't become more efficient as the newer series.